CALGARY — Make a donation to one Libertarian Party candidate in Alberta, and get a chance to win a semi-automatic rifle.
The party's association in Yellowhead, a mostly rural district in west-central Alberta, is giving away the rifle, valued at $1,200, after election day on Oct. 19.
Candidate Cory Lystang told a radio show (Afternoons with Danielle Smith, CHQR) that he checked with Elections Canada before arranging the promotion.
He says he was told it had never been done before, but it did not run afoul of any election rules.
Elections Canada says the Elections Act only addresses the “contribution aspect” of this case, that is, the value of the donated prize and the value of tickets purchased, which constitute “contributions” to the party.
As long as the contributions are properly reported after the election, Elections Canada says, the giveaway complies with election law.
The winner must be 18 years and older and have a restricted firearms licence in order to receive the prize.
"The mission of the Libertarian Party of Canada is to reduce the responsibilities and expense of government," it says on the Libertarian Party website.
"This, so that we may each manage our lives to mutually fulfil our needs by the free and voluntary exchange of our efforts and property for the value that best realizes our happiness."